Missouri lawmaker outraged over beating of Liberty Middle School boy

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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Missouri senator expressed outrage during Wednesday's Senate meeting at the Capital over the vicious attack that happened at a Liberty Middle School last week and urged other lawmakers that they too should feel compelled to protect kids from bullies.

Sen. Eric Schmitt expressed to the Missouri Senate Wednesday night that he was shocked and disturbed to hear about the attack of a Liberty Middle School boy.

Blake Kitchen, 12, was violently attacked at school last Thursday. Blake has Asperger's Syndrome, which is a form of autism, and likes routines. Because Blake likes routines, he sits in the same sport every day at school.While at breakfast last week, a boy moved Blake's items from his spot. Blake then asked the boy to move and another boy who had previously bullied his older brother began to beat Blake. Blake was beaten until he almost passed out.

"It's time that we do something about this," Sen. Schmitt said in his emotional speech.

From: Eric Schmitt for Missouri facebook page

Sen. Schmitt, who is the father of a boy with autism, said that lawmakers are now listening and taking efforts to combat bullying in schools.

In his emotional plea for support from the senate, Sen. Schmitt called out the school district for ignoring previous reports from parents that the alleged bully had previous offenses that were never dealt with in a manner that was effective.

Many in the community are showing support for Blake, after learning what happened to him. According to Dallas Ackerman, ‎Director of Communications and Marketing at Liberty Public Schools, several students wore blue T-shirts to school to show support for Blake. They also made posters and put them up around the school.

Some complained after the students were asked to remove the posters. Ackerman explained that the school has an approval process for posters and until the process is complete, the posters cannot be put up. Some complained on Facebook that the principal took down the posters, but Ackerman says that is not how it occurred.

Other Facebook commenters claimed the students were instructed to wash "Blue for Blake" or other slogans of support that they had written on their hands. When FOX 4's Megan Dillard asked him about this, he replied, "By all indications, that simply didn't happen."

A longtime friend of Blake's family is organizing a bike ride and rally for Blake. Look for more on that coming up on FOX 4 newscasts and refresh this page for updates.